Chance Me! Finance/Film Kid (TX Resident, 3.95UW, just outside top 10%, 35 ACT) [on visa, not US citizen or PR]

If you can pay $60K, keep your list (assuming the NPCs work out) and add Indiana U and done.

it’s a safety for you and top 10-ish b school. It’s full of Penn and Michigan near misses.

If you don’t have a green card, you are international status-wise. That is different from whether or not you qualify for instate tuition, which is state-dependent (and may also depend what specific visa you are on. Often, a H4 will qualify but a TD won’t.)

  1. TX will consider you instate for admission (using top6, 10%, 20% rules) and tuition, so apply to UT and another one for sure.

  2. what is Penn’s net cost? That’s the minimum your parents will have to pay, keeping in mind you’re not eligible for federal aid.
    Btw look up Benjamin Franklin Scholars

  3. Indiana Kelley+Hutton is a great safety for you if it’s affordable

  4. your application will be considered in relation to other applicants’ from your HS so academically you’ll be seen as a domestic applicant. However at the FA stage, your situation will differ depending on college: at HYP Brown Dartmouth NYU Indiana UMich Amherst Bowdoin a decision will be made without taking your status as needing aid and how much (though some of those simply don’t meet need); everywhere else, whether you’re full pay or need aid&how much will affect the decision. That’s why it’s essential you let us know how much Penn expects you to pay and whether your parents have salaries+money in bank accounts to pay for it.
    (As an international, loans are difficult to secure and anyway do not “count” when deciding on an admission.)

1 Like

Given your interest in film, consider adding a school like USC where they have a major in the Business of Cinematic Arts.

2 Likes

NYU? Elite business and film schools.

Ithaca is adjacent to Cornell. Excellent film program.

Chicago? Some excellent film schools nearby.

Your list has a lot of reaches. Would like to see a few more less reachy.

1 Like

OP may have an interest in film but it doesn’t appear so academically that they do.

1 Like

It’s in the header. Might not want to be a film major but might want or need to collaborate.

Lots of cross-pollination between business and film due to social media.

I saw the title but didn’t read it as that in part because it’s not been talked about.

I figured OP meant it more as a hook, something to distinguish them to get into a top school…

OP wrote this:

I believe I kind of stand out with my blend of film and finance while most business kids do that and just some community imitative they don’t rlly care about whereas I’m connecting my passion for film AND still having community impact (veteran thing). Lmk what you think!

2 Likes

Well, NYU has a combined BS/BFA in business and film, though it’s only open ti applicants who are already enrolled as either freshmen or sophomores in either Stern or Tisch. Maybe something for OP to consider, though. NYU does seem like an omission for someone interested in these two. (Math department - Courant - is also pretty strong. I don’t know anything about NYU physics.)

3 Likes

Congratulations on all of your accomplishments in high school! You will be a competitive candidate for just about any school in the country.

I could certainly see you being accepted at any of the schools on your list. That said, however, these schools receive far more qualified/competitive applicants than they can accept. Thus, the vast majority of competitive applicants will receive a waitlist/rejection. So you definitely have a shot, but please realize that the odds are against you (as they are against any other strong applicant).

Additionally, that is a LOT of reaches. Think about this in terms of the amount of time it will take to craft individualized responses to the essays (and some of these schools may have 7 or more individualized responses). This will need to happen while you’re also taking all of your senior classes and continuing with your activities. Having a more targeted list of schools that you’re particularly interested in and where you can be more intentional about your application materials may be beneficial.

Last note on this topic is to think very carefully about what kind of a person you are and how you respond to bad news/rejection. Some people use rejection as a fuel to make them even more awesome wherever they land to show the folks who rejected them what a big mistake they made. For people like that, a reach-heavy list can make sense. Many people, however, tend to find rejection a definite mental/emotional blow, and the more rejections they receive, the more likely it might begin to color their perceptions of themselves and the offers they’ve already received. I find that most people tend to do better with more acceptances than rejections, but that really varies based on the person. I would definitely be very contemplative about what kind of a person you are and talk to trusted people about this when deciding how to balance your college application list.

Do you like these safeties and would you be happy to enroll and attend them for four years? If not, you need different sure things. If you need help coming up with schools that are extremely likely to accept you, that you’d be happy to attend, and that are affordable for your family, just let us know.

What is it that you’re hoping to do with this combination after college? Depending on your desires, some schools may be better fits than others.

4 Likes

Yes you’re correct, I started content creation as a way to grow an audience and inspire people to show thing’s one can do regardless of age-I just happened to also like film-making in a way. Academically though, i’m not interested in pursuing a too serious journey in film, i’m a entrepreneur at heart.

Yes you’re correct, It is mostly a hook I don’t really have an academic interest in film, just like content creation

Hi! Yes I’d like some advice on saftie’s my list rn isn’t really something I like too much. As i want to pursue business/finance, I’m not sure of any good schools in NYC or SF/LA that are good for me . (SF and NYC bc they’re hubs for innovation in business and entrepreneurship, not sure of other locations tho)

My intentions with my choice of major and minor is just practicality.

I’ve never really wanted to go into the job industry and have always wanted my own business. Majoring in finance (my passion) gives me a advantage for 1. My drive for passion 2. Good Job Opportunities just in case. Physics/Math is there as having a background in something that practically runs the world will always be beneficial, even if it’s a bit more harder. I intend on possibly using this for business in the space industry.

Perfectly understood 1 and 2. Penn’s net cost of attendance is aprox. 93k per year, however my family is eligible for financial aid and on the Penn NPC it says i’m eligible for 60k of penn scholarship and have to pay 34k per year

Furthermore, As I’m practically a International student my chances are already low, even if I ED. Even lower considering that Penn is need-aware for internationals and that I require Partial Aid.

However, I’ve been working with a Penn Wharton proff. who MAY give me a rec. letter.

Considering or considering not, If i’m EDing, should I still consider applying?

I’m not sure overall and am a bit nervous. Worked with and around Penn Wharton my whole life, wokred very hard for my EC’s, it’s a dream. Just kinda nervous that I’ve significantly lowered my chances bc I don’t have citizenship (despite living here my entire life) and enough money to pay even though I’m qualified if i were the same status as one of my classmates

Penn’s COA is over $85K for tuition, room and board. So if you are getting $40K - then your cost would be $45K.

I mentioned Indiana as all the safety you need (top 10 and your stats auto admit you) but if you are seeking a more entrepreneurial school, you should check out Babson and U Houston - two top for entrepreneurship. U Houston is likely in state for you.

Top 50 Entrepreneurship: Ugrad | The Princeton Review

1 Like

As a international student applying, should I even consider EDin there? despite my EC’s and Upenn Proff. recc letter? I don’t want to waste an ED on somehwer wher I have a lower chance wheras I can apply need blind ED to harvard or smth. Also their Net cost of attendance is 93k and they’re willing to bring it down to 35k (w/60k scholarship)

OK - so you get the #s. Yes, what I gave you what tuition, room and board. They include other things like travel but I don’t because schools use whatever #s they want. So I use direct costs.

I would apply to where you want to apply - I would not base it on need blind. Harvard doesn’t have finance. You keep talking about a passion for finance so i’m not sure why Harvard is even on your radar other than it’s clear you like big names.

Have you been to UPenn or Harvard to know you want them?

I will only say about ED - you will be somewhere four years, day after day. I would ensure I want to be there- not just for reputation but in reality before ED’ing anywhere.

That’s me!!

When did Smith come into play? You have an entire list above - Smith wasn’t on it.

One doesn’t need to ED and it’s not necessarily of benefit to ED although Penn gets half its class plus that way.

Harvard doesn’t have ED, by the way, but Restrictive Early Action - so it’s non binding. And there’s no advantage - so in many ways, other than getting an early answer, it’s a waste.

What it says is:

  • If you are applying to Harvard under Restrictive Early Action, you may not apply to any other private institution under an Early Decision, Early Action, or Restrictive Early Action plan, or to a binding early program at a public university.

Harvard does not offer an advantage to students who apply early.

I really think you need to look, yes at name, but visit - these schools are very different.

1 Like

Completely understand the P.O.V you’re showing here, I’ve visited and done programs at both and love them for their campus, resources, diversity, AND prestige. For where I’m going, the name of the school does factor into play. And I do know that Harvard is REA, (practically ED w/o the legal binding of attending) it’s more so on the basis that I’m willing to go to both, however want to maximize my chances. Wharton ED as a international applicant who need’s financial aid will put me worse compared to Harvard REA international applicant who need’s financial aid but isn’t scrutinized on applications for it.

I love UPenn, would love to go there. However I have to look into the weighted averages of the possibility of attending there or not.

OP didn’t say Smith. They said smth, which is Gen Z for “something.” :slight_smile:

3 Likes